Self-destruct projectile and composition

ABSTRACT

A self-destructive projectile having a transverse wall integral with and extending across a substantially cylindrical projectile outer wall, thus defining a forward high-explosive cavity and a rearward tracer cavity. The tracer mix in the tracer cavity consists of a fuel, an oxidizer and a burning rate modifier and is capable of prolonging the period immediately prior to selfdestructive occurrence.

United States Patent Inventors Allen F. Schlack Churchville; Thomas J. McNally, Levittown, both of Pa.; Thomas A. Doris, Jr., Palmyra, NJ.

Appl. No. 867,164

Filed Oct. 17, 1969 Patented Jan. 11, 1972 Assignee The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army SELF-DESTRUCT PROJECTILE AND COMPOSITION 5 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

U.S. Cl 102/87, 149/40, 149/41, 149/42, 149/43, 149/44 F42b 11/16 102/87, 60,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,326,129 6/1967 Gould 102/493 Primary Examiner-Carl D. Quarforth Assistant Examiner-Stephen J. Lechert, Jr.

Attorneys-Harry M. Saragovitz, Edward J Kelly, Herbert Her] and S. Dubroff ABSTRACT: A self-destructive projectile having a transverse wall integral with and extending across a substantially cylindrical projectile outer wall, thus defining a forward high-explosive cavity and a rearward tracer cavity. The tracer mix in the tracer cavity consists of a fuel, an oxidizer and a burning rate modifier and is capable of prolonging the period immediately prior to self-destructive occurrence.

PATENTEB JAN] 1 I972 31633512 INVENTOR. ALLEN F. HLACK THOMAS .McNALLY BY THOMAS ADORIS, JR.

ATTORNEYS Mm 777- fdwwfiffwl. /MMM; 1M

SELF-DESTRUCT PROJECTILE AND COMPOSITION The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

It is an object of the invention to provide a self-destruct projectile in which a minimum of longitudinal space is required for the self-destruct mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a projectile requiring easier machining and fewer assembly operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a projectile having a tracer mix with the capability of prolonging the time for self-destruct to occur.

These and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawing in which the sole FIGURE is a longitudinal sectional view of the self-destruct projectile embodying the principles of the invention.

The self-destruct projectile or shell body is of substantially cylindrical contour and the forward high explosive cavity 11 has a threaded opening 12 for securement of the nose portion (not shown). In forming the high explosive cavity 11 and the rearwardly opening tracer cavity 13, the body 10 is provided with an integral wall 14 that, together with the integral central relay cup portion 15, extends transversely across the projectile. The forwardly opening recess of the integral relay cup 15 is filled with a heat sensitive relay mix 16 and is ignited from the heat absorbed by the wall of the relay cup due to the burning of the tracer mix 17. The relay mix 16 ignites the booster mix 18 and in turn the high explosive charge 19.

The long burning tracer mix 17, several examples of which will be hereinafter described, is ignited by igniter mixture 20 and subigniter mixture 21 which are located intermediate the tracer mixture 17 and base seal 22. A centrally apertured metering disc 23 is appropriately secured to the projectile base rearwardly of base seal 22.

The long burning tracer mixture is made by blending fuel and oxidizer tracer mix constituents with predetermined amounts of combustible ingredients: an organic chemical, oxamide, which is a burning rate modifier; and dechlorane, a color intensifier which is combustible. The dechlorane and the oxamide both have the affect of lowering the flame temperature at which the tracer mixture burns.

The following ingredient examples, with indicated percentages by weight, were tested and their relative burning times are included below:

Oxamide, c,o, M1, l5.0/l00.0 20.0 100.0 loo/100,0

Burning rate. sec/in.

Static (nonspinning) 22.4 126.7 219 Dynamic (spinning 0 60,000 r.p.m. 9.6 122 9.2

Since a long burning tracer mix can now be used, the tracer cavity can now be of a shorter length, allowing for a relatively shorter round or one with a longer high explosive cavity. Additional longitudinal space is conserved by employing the integral relay cup arrangement by which the axial length of heat transfer media is minimized for its operative temperature range of 65 F to F.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In a self-destruct projectile having an outer substantially cylindrical wall and a traverse wall integral therewith and extending thereacross to define a forward high explosive cavity and a rearward tracer cavity,

a tracer mix in said tracer cavity and consisting of:

a metallic fuel,

an oxidizer including at least one of a group consisting of strontium nitrate, strontium oxalate and potassium perchlorate, and

an oxamide burning rate modifier.

2. The arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tracer mix consists of the following ranges of materials in percentages by weight:

magnesium 2 l .0 to 23.8 strontium nitrate 30.0 to 34.0 strontium oxalate 6.0 to 6.8 potassium perchlorate 15.0 to l7.0 calcium resinate 3.0 to 3.4 dechlorane 5.0% oxamide l0.0 to 20.0

3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said tracer mix consists of the following materials in percentages by weight:

magnesium-22.4 percent strontium nitrate-32.0 percent magnesium 23.8percent strontium nitrate 34.0percent strontium oxalate 6.8percent potassium perchlorate 17.0percent calcium resinate 3.4percent dechlorane 5 .Opercent oxamide 10.0percent 

2. The arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tracer mix consists of the following ranges of materials in percentages by weight: magnesium 21.0 to 23.8 strontium nitrate 30.0 to 34.0 strontium oxalate 6.0 to 6.8 potassium perchlorate 15.0 to 17.0 calcium resinate 3.0 to 3.4 dechlorane 5.0% oxamide 10.0 to 20.0
 3. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said tracer mix consists of the following materials in percentages by weight: magnesium-22.4 percent strontium nitrate- 32.0 percent strontium oxalate-6.4 percent potassium perchlorate- 16.0 percent calcium resinate- 3.2 percent dechlorane- 5.0percent oxamide- 15.0 percent
 4. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said tracer mix consists of the following materials in percentages by weight: magnesium-21.0 percent strontium nitrate- 30.0 percent strontium oxalate-6.0 percent potassium perchlorate-
 15. percent calcium resinate-3.0 percent dechlorane- 5.0 percent oxamide- 10.0 percent
 5. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said tracer mix consists of the following materials in percentages by weight: magnesium -23.8percent strontium nitrate - 34.0percent strontium oxalate -6.8percent potassium perchlorate - 17.0percent calcium resinate -3.4percent dechlorane - 5.0percent oxamide - 10.0percent 